Chapter 2 #3
There was a radiance to it, an almost otherworldly presence, that made my heart begin to race, and the hair on my arms stand upright.
A pressure moved against me, pressing against my skin, and a strange, expectant hush felt heavy in my ears. I hesitated before reaching out, brushing my fingers lightly over the wood.
It felt old, ancient, despite the new, shiny appearance, and my touch drifted, brushing against the spine of one of the leather-bound books. A ripple passed through the air, and my breath caught as my hand passed through.
There was only a brief resistance before my fingers slipped into emptiness. I barely had a second to process what had happened before the invisible weight pulled me forward.
I stumbled through space, and when my hands found solid ground, I turned with a panicked breath. The exit—if I could even call it that—was behind me now, visible only as a large brown door with golden hardware.
It didn’t appear I’d have any issue leaving.
But then I turned and looked, and my breath caught in my throat as my attention moved over the rest of the space.
I’d fallen straight into a scene from a dream.
The room around me was circular with dark green walls and chestnut bookshelves lining the perimeter.
Books filled the shelves to bursting, and a crystal chandelier dangled from the ceiling, casting gentle light over the plush seating and grand fireplace
I touched my mouth and stepped back. A fire was burning in the hearth, which meant this room wasn’t as secret as it first appeared.
But yet… it didn’t seem that anyone else was here.
My attention lingered over the space before I took a cautious step forward toward the shelves and allowed my fingertips to ghost over the spines of the books. I had no reason to be here, but there was something humming in the air.
Even though I knew I shouldn’t, I couldn’t help but explore. My heartbeat echoed in the silence as I pulled a book from the shelf, its weight surprisingly solid in my hands.
I took a seat and traced the embossed title, but it was written in a language I couldn’t place.
Maybe Brayden would know?
Before I could move, the doorway rippled, and an older, white-haired man entered the space.
He paused, touching his black tie as the door solidified behind him, and his shaven square jaw tightened as his bright blue eyes landed on me.
“Who might you be?” he asked in a deep baritone.
I squeezed the book closer to my chest. “S-sorry.”
I wanted to escape, but he stood between me and the exit.
My hesitation seemed to draw a sharper focus from him. He arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, his gaze piercing as he considered me further. “I’m afraid that scarcely answers my question.”
“I’m—” My voice escaped in a squeak as my shoulders tensed. “I’m Bianca…”
His mouth deepened into a curious frown, highlighting the fine wrinkles on his face, and he brushed the arm of his navy suit and asked, “And to whom do you belong, Bianca?”
A strange undercurrent to his question made me pause, and I could no longer meet his eyes. I pulled the book closer to my chin and studied the fireplace. “D-Dubois.” When he didn’t respond, I added, “I’m… I’m married to Bryce.”
For now.
“So it is,” he mused, closing the gap between us with deliberate steps. His elegant movements were fluid and practiced, and I watched him warily as he took the opposite chair.
“I—I didn’t mean to intrude. I found this place by accident,” I confessed in a whisper, studying the floor between us. He was so close now, less than five feet away. “I’ll leave.”
“You don’t have to leave,” he replied.
I bit my lip, nodding. “O-okay.”
A tense silence moved between us, and I focused on his polished, black shoes.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said suddenly. “You’re fae.”
Did that mean he’d hurt me if I weren’t ? Still—
“I wasn’t going to—”
“Then why do you avert your gaze?” he asked. “That’s beneath someone with your lineage. Make eye contact and speak properly.”
Slowly, I looked up, and even though it was stupid and my nerves were screaming in protest, I nodded.
“Be more confident,” he commanded, and when I didn’t respond, he frowned, clearly displeased. “And answer me directly. Why are you cowering?”
“Um…” I bit my lip. The air seemed to swell as the powerful presence wrapped around me. “I—” I paused, sucking in a breath, before continuing, “I don’t mean to. I’m scared of men.”
“Is that so?” He tilted his head. I looked back to the floor, and he leaned forward, bracing his forearms over his knees, demanding my attention with his presence. “Why?” he asked.
“They—” I began, hugging myself. Why was I telling him this? “They can hurt you.”
He was silent momentarily, and the seconds seemed to stretch between us before he suddenly asked, “Where’s your chaperone? I did not see anyone outside.”
I fought the heat rising at the back of my neck and replied through gritted teeth, “I don’t have one.”
“Why do you seem displeased?” The man scowled. “A female of your standing should have a chaperone.”
“I don’t understand why.” I bit my lip. “I—I don’t need someone following me around, telling me what to do.”
“A chaperone isn’t only for supervision,” he replied. “They are your bodyguards—a necessary thing, especially in this realm. There are so few of you and fewer yet that can hold your family’s secret.”
“S-secret?” I blinked.
He was still looking at me in that disapproving way. “How do you know so little about being a fae?”
“I—” My cheeks grew hot, and I looked at the fireplace. “I’m still learning.”
“Who raised you?”
“Ah—” I touched my fingertips together. “Well, I was adopted when I was eight…”
“And before that?” he asked.
“Does it matter?” My breath caught, and I wrapped my arms around my stomach as it began to twist painfully.
His eyebrows drew together, and he tilted his head. “What is your given name?”
“Brosnan…” I looked at my knees. He didn’t reply, and I glanced at him. He wore a sour expression, and he glared at a point over my shoulder. “Why?” I asked.
“What is your father’s name?”
“De—” I began without thinking, but I had difficulty processing our relationship. I couldn’t say I didn’t know his name. “I—” I managed instead. “I never met my biological father, but Kieran took care of me before I was adopted.”
“Kieran Brosnan?” He frowned further.
“Do you know him?” I asked.
“In a way,” the man replied. “I am acquainted with his father, Callum. We share a mutual interest. I watched Kieran grow from infancy.”
“Oh,” I breathed. Why was my heart beginning to race? “I liked him.”
“He is a good man,” he agreed, and my pulse quickened. I didn’t want to be the one to tell him that Kieran was probably dead.
“With whom are you studying?” he asked suddenly.
I looked at him through my eyelashes, blinking back the wetness that’d gathered in the corners of my eyes.
“Um… Ms. Protean,” I answered. “At least, I will next semester. I think.” My skin flushed as I added.
“I—I’m taking a break from school right now.
” At his frown, I added, “But Dr. Stephens wants me to study with him. So, I don’t know what to do. ”
“You are familiar with the Elders?” he asked, linking his fingers under his chin.
“A—a little,” I pulled back, pressing against the seat. Why was he so interested? “I don’t know everyone. Why?”
“A personal query,” the older man replied. He stood, pulling at the bottom of his jacket, and looked at me. “You may use this room however you desire. I would, however, appreciate discretion regarding your discovery, and of our meeting.”
“O-okay,” I swallowed. Did this mean the room belonged to him? “But…” He’d been fixing his cufflink and looked back at me when I spoke. “What’s your name?”
He studied me, considering, before saying, “You may call me Seigneur du Bois d’Or.”
The sudden change in his tone took me by surprise, and I couldn’t catch all he said. Not that I had any idea how to say it anyway. Still, I nodded.
“I hope to see you again, Bianca Dubois,” he nodded toward me as he moved to the door. “Next time, we will continue our discussion. I’m certain we’ve much to learn from each other.”
I raised my hand, lifting my fingers in a wave, but he’d already stepped through the veil.